What Resolution a 3D Render Needs Depending on Its Use (Web, Print, Social)

• List of channels where the image will be used (web, catalog, social media, trade show, packaging).
• Final physical size if there is printing involved (A4, 2×1 m banner, 8×5 cm label).
• Whether there will be zoom or additional crops over the same image.

This information fits with what is already covered in what information a 3D render studio needs before starting, and avoiding ambiguity here saves unnecessary rounds of revision.

Frequently asked questions

What minimum resolution do I need to publish a render on Instagram?

For the Instagram feed, 1080 x 1080 px in square format or 1080 x 1350 px in vertical is enough. For stories and reels you need 1080 x 1920 px in 9:16 format. No higher resolution is needed because the platform compresses the image upon upload.

Can I use the same render for the web and to print a catalog?

Yes, as long as it’s calculated from the start at the highest resolution needed, usually the print resolution, which typically requires 300 DPI at final size. From that master file, lighter versions can be generated for the web without losing quality.

What happens if I request a lower resolution than I need?

If the delivered resolution is lower than what’s needed for the final use, the image will look pixelated or blurry when scaled up. Scaling up doesn’t add real detail, so in most cases the scene would need to be re-rendered at a higher resolution.

Does DPI matter for images that will only be viewed on screen?

No. Screens are measured in pixels, not DPI. The DPI concept is only relevant when the image will be printed at a specific physical size, since it relates dot density to real inches.

How do I know what resolution to request if I haven’t defined all the usage channels yet?

When in doubt, it’s best to request the highest reasonable resolution within budget, since it can always be reduced later without quality loss. It’s better to slightly oversize than to discover later that resolution is missing for a specific use.

You don’t need to master the technical terms, but you do need to provide concrete information. A good resolution brief includes:

• List of channels where the image will be used (web, catalog, social media, trade show, packaging).
• Final physical size if there is printing involved (A4, 2×1 m banner, 8×5 cm label).
• Whether there will be zoom or additional crops over the same image.

This information fits with what is already covered in what information a 3D render studio needs before starting, and avoiding ambiguity here saves unnecessary rounds of revision.

Frequently asked questions

What minimum resolution do I need to publish a render on Instagram?

For the Instagram feed, 1080 x 1080 px in square format or 1080 x 1350 px in vertical is enough. For stories and reels you need 1080 x 1920 px in 9:16 format. No higher resolution is needed because the platform compresses the image upon upload.

Can I use the same render for the web and to print a catalog?

Yes, as long as it’s calculated from the start at the highest resolution needed, usually the print resolution, which typically requires 300 DPI at final size. From that master file, lighter versions can be generated for the web without losing quality.

What happens if I request a lower resolution than I need?

If the delivered resolution is lower than what’s needed for the final use, the image will look pixelated or blurry when scaled up. Scaling up doesn’t add real detail, so in most cases the scene would need to be re-rendered at a higher resolution.

Does DPI matter for images that will only be viewed on screen?

No. Screens are measured in pixels, not DPI. The DPI concept is only relevant when the image will be printed at a specific physical size, since it relates dot density to real inches.

How do I know what resolution to request if I haven’t defined all the usage channels yet?

When in doubt, it’s best to request the highest reasonable resolution within budget, since it can always be reduced later without quality loss. It’s better to slightly oversize than to discover later that resolution is missing for a specific use.

• Requesting “high resolution” without specifying final size or usage channel.
• Not mentioning that the image will be used across several different channels (web and trade show, for example).
• Assuming an image intended for social media can be scaled up later.
• Not indicating whether there will be different crops over the same composition.

The more specific the final use is in the initial brief, the fewer revisions the project will need due to resolution issues.

Render once, deliver multiple resolutions

The most efficient practice is to calculate the render at the highest resolution needed among all planned uses, and from there generate smaller variants for web or social media. Scaling down preserves quality; scaling up doesn’t. That’s why in our 3D product render service we always ask about all destination channels before launching the final calculation, so we can deliver a single master file from which to derive the rest of the formats without quality loss.

How to communicate this need to the studio

You don’t need to master the technical terms, but you do need to provide concrete information. A good resolution brief includes:

• List of channels where the image will be used (web, catalog, social media, trade show, packaging).
• Final physical size if there is printing involved (A4, 2×1 m banner, 8×5 cm label).
• Whether there will be zoom or additional crops over the same image.

This information fits with what is already covered in what information a 3D render studio needs before starting, and avoiding ambiguity here saves unnecessary rounds of revision.

Frequently asked questions

What minimum resolution do I need to publish a render on Instagram?

For the Instagram feed, 1080 x 1080 px in square format or 1080 x 1350 px in vertical is enough. For stories and reels you need 1080 x 1920 px in 9:16 format. No higher resolution is needed because the platform compresses the image upon upload.

Can I use the same render for the web and to print a catalog?

Yes, as long as it’s calculated from the start at the highest resolution needed, usually the print resolution, which typically requires 300 DPI at final size. From that master file, lighter versions can be generated for the web without losing quality.

What happens if I request a lower resolution than I need?

If the delivered resolution is lower than what’s needed for the final use, the image will look pixelated or blurry when scaled up. Scaling up doesn’t add real detail, so in most cases the scene would need to be re-rendered at a higher resolution.

Does DPI matter for images that will only be viewed on screen?

No. Screens are measured in pixels, not DPI. The DPI concept is only relevant when the image will be printed at a specific physical size, since it relates dot density to real inches.

How do I know what resolution to request if I haven’t defined all the usage channels yet?

When in doubt, it’s best to request the highest reasonable resolution within budget, since it can always be reduced later without quality loss. It’s better to slightly oversize than to discover later that resolution is missing for a specific use.

Most delays and re-deliveries related to resolution come from incomplete briefs. Some recurring patterns:

• Requesting “high resolution” without specifying final size or usage channel.
• Not mentioning that the image will be used across several different channels (web and trade show, for example).
• Assuming an image intended for social media can be scaled up later.
• Not indicating whether there will be different crops over the same composition.

The more specific the final use is in the initial brief, the fewer revisions the project will need due to resolution issues.

Render once, deliver multiple resolutions

The most efficient practice is to calculate the render at the highest resolution needed among all planned uses, and from there generate smaller variants for web or social media. Scaling down preserves quality; scaling up doesn’t. That’s why in our 3D product render service we always ask about all destination channels before launching the final calculation, so we can deliver a single master file from which to derive the rest of the formats without quality loss.

How to communicate this need to the studio

You don’t need to master the technical terms, but you do need to provide concrete information. A good resolution brief includes:

• List of channels where the image will be used (web, catalog, social media, trade show, packaging).
• Final physical size if there is printing involved (A4, 2×1 m banner, 8×5 cm label).
• Whether there will be zoom or additional crops over the same image.

This information fits with what is already covered in what information a 3D render studio needs before starting, and avoiding ambiguity here saves unnecessary rounds of revision.

Frequently asked questions

What minimum resolution do I need to publish a render on Instagram?

For the Instagram feed, 1080 x 1080 px in square format or 1080 x 1350 px in vertical is enough. For stories and reels you need 1080 x 1920 px in 9:16 format. No higher resolution is needed because the platform compresses the image upon upload.

Can I use the same render for the web and to print a catalog?

Yes, as long as it’s calculated from the start at the highest resolution needed, usually the print resolution, which typically requires 300 DPI at final size. From that master file, lighter versions can be generated for the web without losing quality.

What happens if I request a lower resolution than I need?

If the delivered resolution is lower than what’s needed for the final use, the image will look pixelated or blurry when scaled up. Scaling up doesn’t add real detail, so in most cases the scene would need to be re-rendered at a higher resolution.

Does DPI matter for images that will only be viewed on screen?

No. Screens are measured in pixels, not DPI. The DPI concept is only relevant when the image will be printed at a specific physical size, since it relates dot density to real inches.

How do I know what resolution to request if I haven’t defined all the usage channels yet?

When in doubt, it’s best to request the highest reasonable resolution within budget, since it can always be reduced later without quality loss. It’s better to slightly oversize than to discover later that resolution is missing for a specific use.

Most delays and re-deliveries related to resolution come from incomplete briefs. Some recurring patterns:

• Requesting “high resolution” without specifying final size or usage channel.
• Not mentioning that the image will be used across several different channels (web and trade show, for example).
• Assuming an image intended for social media can be scaled up later.
• Not indicating whether there will be different crops over the same composition.

The more specific the final use is in the initial brief, the fewer revisions the project will need due to resolution issues.

Render once, deliver multiple resolutions

The most efficient practice is to calculate the render at the highest resolution needed among all planned uses, and from there generate smaller variants for web or social media. Scaling down preserves quality; scaling up doesn’t. That’s why in our 3D product render service we always ask about all destination channels before launching the final calculation, so we can deliver a single master file from which to derive the rest of the formats without quality loss.

How to communicate this need to the studio

You don’t need to master the technical terms, but you do need to provide concrete information. A good resolution brief includes:

• List of channels where the image will be used (web, catalog, social media, trade show, packaging).
• Final physical size if there is printing involved (A4, 2×1 m banner, 8×5 cm label).
• Whether there will be zoom or additional crops over the same image.

This information fits with what is already covered in what information a 3D render studio needs before starting, and avoiding ambiguity here saves unnecessary rounds of revision.

Frequently asked questions

What minimum resolution do I need to publish a render on Instagram?

For the Instagram feed, 1080 x 1080 px in square format or 1080 x 1350 px in vertical is enough. For stories and reels you need 1080 x 1920 px in 9:16 format. No higher resolution is needed because the platform compresses the image upon upload.

Can I use the same render for the web and to print a catalog?

Yes, as long as it’s calculated from the start at the highest resolution needed, usually the print resolution, which typically requires 300 DPI at final size. From that master file, lighter versions can be generated for the web without losing quality.

What happens if I request a lower resolution than I need?

If the delivered resolution is lower than what’s needed for the final use, the image will look pixelated or blurry when scaled up. Scaling up doesn’t add real detail, so in most cases the scene would need to be re-rendered at a higher resolution.

Does DPI matter for images that will only be viewed on screen?

No. Screens are measured in pixels, not DPI. The DPI concept is only relevant when the image will be printed at a specific physical size, since it relates dot density to real inches.

How do I know what resolution to request if I haven’t defined all the usage channels yet?

When in doubt, it’s best to request the highest reasonable resolution within budget, since it can always be reduced later without quality loss. It’s better to slightly oversize than to discover later that resolution is missing for a specific use.

Each social network crops, compresses, and resizes images according to its own algorithm, so requesting maximum resolution is unnecessary. What matters is the format and aspect ratio, not just the pixel count:

• Instagram feed: 1080 x 1080 px (square) or 1080 x 1350 px (vertical).
• Instagram/TikTok stories and reels: 1080 x 1920 px, vertical 9:16 format.
• LinkedIn: 1200 x 1200 px or 1200 x 627 px for posts with a link.
• Pinterest: vertical format, ideally 1000 x 1500 px.

A common mistake is requesting the render thinking only of the final Instagram crop, with no margin. It’s better to generate the image with a bit more space around the product, so it can be cropped for each platform’s format without losing composition.

How resolution affects the delivery format

Resolution and file format go hand in hand. There’s no point requesting a render at maximum resolution if it’s then delivered in a format with aggressive compression that destroys that detail. It’s worth reviewing 3D render delivery formats: JPG, PNG, TIFF and when to use each one to understand which combination of resolution and format suits the final use.

Common mistakes when defining resolution in the brief

Most delays and re-deliveries related to resolution come from incomplete briefs. Some recurring patterns:

• Requesting “high resolution” without specifying final size or usage channel.
• Not mentioning that the image will be used across several different channels (web and trade show, for example).
• Assuming an image intended for social media can be scaled up later.
• Not indicating whether there will be different crops over the same composition.

The more specific the final use is in the initial brief, the fewer revisions the project will need due to resolution issues.

Render once, deliver multiple resolutions

The most efficient practice is to calculate the render at the highest resolution needed among all planned uses, and from there generate smaller variants for web or social media. Scaling down preserves quality; scaling up doesn’t. That’s why in our 3D product render service we always ask about all destination channels before launching the final calculation, so we can deliver a single master file from which to derive the rest of the formats without quality loss.

How to communicate this need to the studio

You don’t need to master the technical terms, but you do need to provide concrete information. A good resolution brief includes:

• List of channels where the image will be used (web, catalog, social media, trade show, packaging).
• Final physical size if there is printing involved (A4, 2×1 m banner, 8×5 cm label).
• Whether there will be zoom or additional crops over the same image.

This information fits with what is already covered in what information a 3D render studio needs before starting, and avoiding ambiguity here saves unnecessary rounds of revision.

Frequently asked questions

What minimum resolution do I need to publish a render on Instagram?

For the Instagram feed, 1080 x 1080 px in square format or 1080 x 1350 px in vertical is enough. For stories and reels you need 1080 x 1920 px in 9:16 format. No higher resolution is needed because the platform compresses the image upon upload.

Can I use the same render for the web and to print a catalog?

Yes, as long as it’s calculated from the start at the highest resolution needed, usually the print resolution, which typically requires 300 DPI at final size. From that master file, lighter versions can be generated for the web without losing quality.

What happens if I request a lower resolution than I need?

If the delivered resolution is lower than what’s needed for the final use, the image will look pixelated or blurry when scaled up. Scaling up doesn’t add real detail, so in most cases the scene would need to be re-rendered at a higher resolution.

Does DPI matter for images that will only be viewed on screen?

No. Screens are measured in pixels, not DPI. The DPI concept is only relevant when the image will be printed at a specific physical size, since it relates dot density to real inches.

How do I know what resolution to request if I haven’t defined all the usage channels yet?

When in doubt, it’s best to request the highest reasonable resolution within budget, since it can always be reduced later without quality loss. It’s better to slightly oversize than to discover later that resolution is missing for a specific use.

This is where DPI comes into play strictly. The standard reference for quality offset printing is 300 DPI at final size. To calculate the pixel resolution you need, multiply the print size in inches by 300.

• Full-page A4 catalog: approximately 2480 x 3508 px at 300 DPI.
• Half-page technical sheet: half those dimensions is enough.
• Packaging or labels: requires high resolution and coordination with the printing color system (CMYK), not just pixel size.

If you need even larger formats, it’s worth reviewing how high-resolution 3D render for large formats and printing works, because the technical process changes compared to a render intended only for screen.

What resolution to request for social media

Each social network crops, compresses, and resizes images according to its own algorithm, so requesting maximum resolution is unnecessary. What matters is the format and aspect ratio, not just the pixel count:

• Instagram feed: 1080 x 1080 px (square) or 1080 x 1350 px (vertical).
• Instagram/TikTok stories and reels: 1080 x 1920 px, vertical 9:16 format.
• LinkedIn: 1200 x 1200 px or 1200 x 627 px for posts with a link.
• Pinterest: vertical format, ideally 1000 x 1500 px.

A common mistake is requesting the render thinking only of the final Instagram crop, with no margin. It’s better to generate the image with a bit more space around the product, so it can be cropped for each platform’s format without losing composition.

How resolution affects the delivery format

Resolution and file format go hand in hand. There’s no point requesting a render at maximum resolution if it’s then delivered in a format with aggressive compression that destroys that detail. It’s worth reviewing 3D render delivery formats: JPG, PNG, TIFF and when to use each one to understand which combination of resolution and format suits the final use.

Common mistakes when defining resolution in the brief

Most delays and re-deliveries related to resolution come from incomplete briefs. Some recurring patterns:

• Requesting “high resolution” without specifying final size or usage channel.
• Not mentioning that the image will be used across several different channels (web and trade show, for example).
• Assuming an image intended for social media can be scaled up later.
• Not indicating whether there will be different crops over the same composition.

The more specific the final use is in the initial brief, the fewer revisions the project will need due to resolution issues.

Render once, deliver multiple resolutions

The most efficient practice is to calculate the render at the highest resolution needed among all planned uses, and from there generate smaller variants for web or social media. Scaling down preserves quality; scaling up doesn’t. That’s why in our 3D product render service we always ask about all destination channels before launching the final calculation, so we can deliver a single master file from which to derive the rest of the formats without quality loss.

How to communicate this need to the studio

You don’t need to master the technical terms, but you do need to provide concrete information. A good resolution brief includes:

• List of channels where the image will be used (web, catalog, social media, trade show, packaging).
• Final physical size if there is printing involved (A4, 2×1 m banner, 8×5 cm label).
• Whether there will be zoom or additional crops over the same image.

This information fits with what is already covered in what information a 3D render studio needs before starting, and avoiding ambiguity here saves unnecessary rounds of revision.

Frequently asked questions

What minimum resolution do I need to publish a render on Instagram?

For the Instagram feed, 1080 x 1080 px in square format or 1080 x 1350 px in vertical is enough. For stories and reels you need 1080 x 1920 px in 9:16 format. No higher resolution is needed because the platform compresses the image upon upload.

Can I use the same render for the web and to print a catalog?

Yes, as long as it’s calculated from the start at the highest resolution needed, usually the print resolution, which typically requires 300 DPI at final size. From that master file, lighter versions can be generated for the web without losing quality.

What happens if I request a lower resolution than I need?

If the delivered resolution is lower than what’s needed for the final use, the image will look pixelated or blurry when scaled up. Scaling up doesn’t add real detail, so in most cases the scene would need to be re-rendered at a higher resolution.

Does DPI matter for images that will only be viewed on screen?

No. Screens are measured in pixels, not DPI. The DPI concept is only relevant when the image will be printed at a specific physical size, since it relates dot density to real inches.

How do I know what resolution to request if I haven’t defined all the usage channels yet?

When in doubt, it’s best to request the highest reasonable resolution within budget, since it can always be reduced later without quality loss. It’s better to slightly oversize than to discover later that resolution is missing for a specific use.

For web use, what matters is the pixel size of the container where the image will be displayed, not DPI. A product page in e-commerce, a portfolio image, or a banner have different needs:

• Standard product pages: between 1500 and 2500 px on the longest side is usually enough, even with zoom.
• Hero or header images: 1920 to 2560 px wide, depending on site design.
• Galleries with advanced zoom: it may be worth going up to 3000-4000 px so the zoom doesn’t lose sharpness.

Delivering more resolution than necessary for the web doesn’t improve anything: it only increases file size and slows down page loading, which hurts SEO and user experience.

3D render resolution for print

This is where DPI comes into play strictly. The standard reference for quality offset printing is 300 DPI at final size. To calculate the pixel resolution you need, multiply the print size in inches by 300.

• Full-page A4 catalog: approximately 2480 x 3508 px at 300 DPI.
• Half-page technical sheet: half those dimensions is enough.
• Packaging or labels: requires high resolution and coordination with the printing color system (CMYK), not just pixel size.

If you need even larger formats, it’s worth reviewing how high-resolution 3D render for large formats and printing works, because the technical process changes compared to a render intended only for screen.

What resolution to request for social media

Each social network crops, compresses, and resizes images according to its own algorithm, so requesting maximum resolution is unnecessary. What matters is the format and aspect ratio, not just the pixel count:

• Instagram feed: 1080 x 1080 px (square) or 1080 x 1350 px (vertical).
• Instagram/TikTok stories and reels: 1080 x 1920 px, vertical 9:16 format.
• LinkedIn: 1200 x 1200 px or 1200 x 627 px for posts with a link.
• Pinterest: vertical format, ideally 1000 x 1500 px.

A common mistake is requesting the render thinking only of the final Instagram crop, with no margin. It’s better to generate the image with a bit more space around the product, so it can be cropped for each platform’s format without losing composition.

How resolution affects the delivery format

Resolution and file format go hand in hand. There’s no point requesting a render at maximum resolution if it’s then delivered in a format with aggressive compression that destroys that detail. It’s worth reviewing 3D render delivery formats: JPG, PNG, TIFF and when to use each one to understand which combination of resolution and format suits the final use.

Common mistakes when defining resolution in the brief

Most delays and re-deliveries related to resolution come from incomplete briefs. Some recurring patterns:

• Requesting “high resolution” without specifying final size or usage channel.
• Not mentioning that the image will be used across several different channels (web and trade show, for example).
• Assuming an image intended for social media can be scaled up later.
• Not indicating whether there will be different crops over the same composition.

The more specific the final use is in the initial brief, the fewer revisions the project will need due to resolution issues.

Render once, deliver multiple resolutions

The most efficient practice is to calculate the render at the highest resolution needed among all planned uses, and from there generate smaller variants for web or social media. Scaling down preserves quality; scaling up doesn’t. That’s why in our 3D product render service we always ask about all destination channels before launching the final calculation, so we can deliver a single master file from which to derive the rest of the formats without quality loss.

How to communicate this need to the studio

You don’t need to master the technical terms, but you do need to provide concrete information. A good resolution brief includes:

• List of channels where the image will be used (web, catalog, social media, trade show, packaging).
• Final physical size if there is printing involved (A4, 2×1 m banner, 8×5 cm label).
• Whether there will be zoom or additional crops over the same image.

This information fits with what is already covered in what information a 3D render studio needs before starting, and avoiding ambiguity here saves unnecessary rounds of revision.

Frequently asked questions

What minimum resolution do I need to publish a render on Instagram?

For the Instagram feed, 1080 x 1080 px in square format or 1080 x 1350 px in vertical is enough. For stories and reels you need 1080 x 1920 px in 9:16 format. No higher resolution is needed because the platform compresses the image upon upload.

Can I use the same render for the web and to print a catalog?

Yes, as long as it’s calculated from the start at the highest resolution needed, usually the print resolution, which typically requires 300 DPI at final size. From that master file, lighter versions can be generated for the web without losing quality.

What happens if I request a lower resolution than I need?

If the delivered resolution is lower than what’s needed for the final use, the image will look pixelated or blurry when scaled up. Scaling up doesn’t add real detail, so in most cases the scene would need to be re-rendered at a higher resolution.

Does DPI matter for images that will only be viewed on screen?

No. Screens are measured in pixels, not DPI. The DPI concept is only relevant when the image will be printed at a specific physical size, since it relates dot density to real inches.

How do I know what resolution to request if I haven’t defined all the usage channels yet?

When in doubt, it’s best to request the highest reasonable resolution within budget, since it can always be reduced later without quality loss. It’s better to slightly oversize than to discover later that resolution is missing for a specific use.

Asking a 3D render studio for “the highest resolution possible” is as imprecise as asking for “the best quality.” The correct resolution depends on the channel where that image will live: an Instagram thumbnail doesn’t need the same as a 3×2 meter banner at a trade show. Understanding this logic saves you from overpaying for pixels no one will see, or discovering too late that your render pixelates on a billboard.

Why resolution isn’t a fixed number

The resolution of a 3D render is defined at the moment of calculation, not afterward. A file generated at 1920×1080 px cannot be “converted” to 4K without real quality loss: it can be scaled, but sharpness and detail don’t appear out of nowhere. That’s why the studio needs to know, before rendering, where the final image will be published.

This has a practical consequence: if you plan to use the same image on the web and in a printed catalog, you need to request it from the brief, not after it has already been delivered. This is one of the brief mistakes that delay a 3D render project most common and easiest to avoid.

DPI: the concept that confuses almost everyone

DPI (dots per inch) measures density, not size. An image can have 300 DPI and be tiny, or have 72 DPI and cover an entire wall. What really matters for the final result is the combination of DPI and the physical output size:

• Screens (web, social media, TV): measured in pixels, not DPI. Density is irrelevant, only pixel resolution counts.
• Print: measured in DPI relative to the final physical size in inches or centimeters.
• Large format (banners, vinyls, displays): use lower DPI because they’re viewed from a distance, not up close.

Confusing these two systems is the most frequent cause of renders that “look bad” without anyone being able to explain why.

3D render resolution for the web

For web use, what matters is the pixel size of the container where the image will be displayed, not DPI. A product page in e-commerce, a portfolio image, or a banner have different needs:

• Standard product pages: between 1500 and 2500 px on the longest side is usually enough, even with zoom.
• Hero or header images: 1920 to 2560 px wide, depending on site design.
• Galleries with advanced zoom: it may be worth going up to 3000-4000 px so the zoom doesn’t lose sharpness.

Delivering more resolution than necessary for the web doesn’t improve anything: it only increases file size and slows down page loading, which hurts SEO and user experience.

3D render resolution for print

This is where DPI comes into play strictly. The standard reference for quality offset printing is 300 DPI at final size. To calculate the pixel resolution you need, multiply the print size in inches by 300.

• Full-page A4 catalog: approximately 2480 x 3508 px at 300 DPI.
• Half-page technical sheet: half those dimensions is enough.
• Packaging or labels: requires high resolution and coordination with the printing color system (CMYK), not just pixel size.

If you need even larger formats, it’s worth reviewing how high-resolution 3D render for large formats and printing works, because the technical process changes compared to a render intended only for screen.

What resolution to request for social media

Each social network crops, compresses, and resizes images according to its own algorithm, so requesting maximum resolution is unnecessary. What matters is the format and aspect ratio, not just the pixel count:

• Instagram feed: 1080 x 1080 px (square) or 1080 x 1350 px (vertical).
• Instagram/TikTok stories and reels: 1080 x 1920 px, vertical 9:16 format.
• LinkedIn: 1200 x 1200 px or 1200 x 627 px for posts with a link.
• Pinterest: vertical format, ideally 1000 x 1500 px.

A common mistake is requesting the render thinking only of the final Instagram crop, with no margin. It’s better to generate the image with a bit more space around the product, so it can be cropped for each platform’s format without losing composition.

How resolution affects the delivery format

Resolution and file format go hand in hand. There’s no point requesting a render at maximum resolution if it’s then delivered in a format with aggressive compression that destroys that detail. It’s worth reviewing 3D render delivery formats: JPG, PNG, TIFF and when to use each one to understand which combination of resolution and format suits the final use.

Common mistakes when defining resolution in the brief

Most delays and re-deliveries related to resolution come from incomplete briefs. Some recurring patterns:

• Requesting “high resolution” without specifying final size or usage channel.
• Not mentioning that the image will be used across several different channels (web and trade show, for example).
• Assuming an image intended for social media can be scaled up later.
• Not indicating whether there will be different crops over the same composition.

The more specific the final use is in the initial brief, the fewer revisions the project will need due to resolution issues.

Render once, deliver multiple resolutions

The most efficient practice is to calculate the render at the highest resolution needed among all planned uses, and from there generate smaller variants for web or social media. Scaling down preserves quality; scaling up doesn’t. That’s why in our 3D product render service we always ask about all destination channels before launching the final calculation, so we can deliver a single master file from which to derive the rest of the formats without quality loss.

How to communicate this need to the studio

You don’t need to master the technical terms, but you do need to provide concrete information. A good resolution brief includes:

• List of channels where the image will be used (web, catalog, social media, trade show, packaging).
• Final physical size if there is printing involved (A4, 2×1 m banner, 8×5 cm label).
• Whether there will be zoom or additional crops over the same image.

This information fits with what is already covered in what information a 3D render studio needs before starting, and avoiding ambiguity here saves unnecessary rounds of revision.

Frequently asked questions

What minimum resolution do I need to publish a render on Instagram?

For the Instagram feed, 1080 x 1080 px in square format or 1080 x 1350 px in vertical is enough. For stories and reels you need 1080 x 1920 px in 9:16 format. No higher resolution is needed because the platform compresses the image upon upload.

Can I use the same render for the web and to print a catalog?

Yes, as long as it’s calculated from the start at the highest resolution needed, usually the print resolution, which typically requires 300 DPI at final size. From that master file, lighter versions can be generated for the web without losing quality.

What happens if I request a lower resolution than I need?

If the delivered resolution is lower than what’s needed for the final use, the image will look pixelated or blurry when scaled up. Scaling up doesn’t add real detail, so in most cases the scene would need to be re-rendered at a higher resolution.

Does DPI matter for images that will only be viewed on screen?

No. Screens are measured in pixels, not DPI. The DPI concept is only relevant when the image will be printed at a specific physical size, since it relates dot density to real inches.

How do I know what resolution to request if I haven’t defined all the usage channels yet?

When in doubt, it’s best to request the highest reasonable resolution within budget, since it can always be reduced later without quality loss. It’s better to slightly oversize than to discover later that resolution is missing for a specific use.